The weather is showing signs of heating up next week for the start of the Wimbledon fortnight.

In contrast to June so far, which has seen temperatures often near or just below normal, next week could see a real change in the way it feels – with hot days and humid nights, especially across the south.

It looks like heat will start to build across Iberia later this weekend and spread northwards across France early next week as a tropical continental airmass begins to dominate the weather. Temperatures across Iberia and southern France could reach the low 40’s Celsius by midweek with northern France seeing temperatures into the mid to high 30s Celsius.

Data: European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts

The UK is likely to be near the boundary between this tropical continental airmass and a tropical maritime airmass over the Atlantic, but we do expect to see temperatures rise across the whole of the UK for the start of July.

Scotland could see highs in the low to mid 20’s (although it may be cloudy here at times), and highs across southern Britain are likely to reach the low 30’s Celsius with a small chance of values in the mid 30’s here.

It’s worth saying that there is some uncertainty about how much of the hot weather from the continent will reach us, and it may only last a couple of days before temperatures drop a little. As is traditional with hot weather in the UK in the summer it may end with thunderstorms.

15 Responses to Hotter weather for the start of July

I’m sitting here with my coat on inside because I stupidly thought I might be able to turn off the central heating today. This is certainly unusual weather we have been having this year so far and not any explanation from the Met Office.

Perhaps if the Met Office were moved from the warm south to Glasgow you might treat our weather a bit more seriously?

There is a 30 year mini ice age starting. 130 year Solar cycles put us at a grand minima right now. The Met office is monitoring space weather but they are not looking at how space weather affects climate on Earth. There are a lot of studies that associate the shifting barycenter with Sun spots and solar cycles. We know sunspots affect solar wind and we know solar wind blows away cosmic rays. There is also plenty of research that cosmic rays seed clouds or make them significantly more dense. Since 2000 the Earth has been getting cooler and it will continue for the next 30 years. The economic effect on food and fuel will be huge.

Google grand minima.
This one is already being called the New Dalton Minimum.

The Met Office need a new department researching the effects of politics on climate models.

Disseminate key messages to help people to look after themselves and their neighbours this summer:
What are the 5 key summer health messages?
• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water
Additional key messages
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves
• The Summer Health Promotion Programme launches on 1st June 2015 and runs through the summer until September. Representatives from the different organisations within Southwark who work with older people will form a Reference Group to help steer the programme, ensuring good working relationships and service user pathways.
For more information on the Programme please contact Age UK Lewisham and Southwark on 020 7358 4079 or at living.well@ageuklands.org.uk.

It’s all down to the wind direction. It was blowing in from the east/southeast yesterday so temperatures at London City Airport would have been lower due to the influence of a breeze from the North Sea in the morning and the Thames in the afternoon, while Heathrow would have had air that had warmed further as it passed over London. You can see this effect in the maxima for the day; Shoeburyness 26.3C, Gravesend 34.7C, Kew Gardens 35.7C and Heathrow 36.7C

so where did the hot air go after heathrow? or did it just vanish? it didn’t get to st james park which was cooler. Given the siting of heathrow station has issues why it is used? or is it just to generate headlines? Surely no airport should be used given the acres of concrete and tarmac? It can only represent the concrete and tarmac and not the surrounding area? https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/wmo03772-heathrow/

Observations have been made at Heathrow for 66 years, making it a valuable long running historical record. The temperature reached it’s peak here at 3.13pm yesterday and it is usual for maximum temperatures to be recorded between 3 and 4pm in the UK. The temperature then falls as the incoming energy from the sun decreases as we head towards sunset. You can find our more about how we record maximum temperatures here https://blog.metoffice.gov.uk/2011/09/30/how-are-maximum-temperatures-recorded/.

so this hot air stayed south of the river thames till Kew then jumped over to heathrow and gravesend missed the northsea/thames cooling that london city got? So all heathrow was then was heat island effect if london warmed it up? So 100 years ago this temp would not have been reached given the heat island would have been less and there would have been no heathrow airport full of hundreds of hot jets? So this record is actually an artificial record made up of very modern factors without which it would never have happened. Don’t find that caveat in the press. “100 years ago it would have been 35c ” lol.

Met wrote “Observations have been made at Heathrow for 66 years, making it a valuable long running historical record.” here are some pics of heathrow from 1950 where we learn “Before the first terminal was completed in 1955, the airport was a collection of tents” http://www.wings900.com/vb/general-squawk-talk/29576-london-heathrow-early-pics.html So not really like with like? heathrow then is not heathrow now so the temperatures can’t be claimed as continuous? Never mind that London heat island has probably increased too?. How much temperature increase do you allow for the extra buildings replacing tents since 1949?

The use of caveats would be helpful. Heathrow is not representative – go there on a hot day and watch the heat haze you won’t see to the East in Greater London (you might but not as widespread). It is a real concrete jungle best avoided when temps are in the 90’s (I have worked there) as it just amplifies the heat. It has also greatly changed and is still changing. Heathrow of the 80’s is not comparable three decades later including the surrounding area which has grown to accommodate the increase in passengers and air freight. So are adjustments made to compensate for these changes and how they could affect temperature recordings?

Heathrow is covered in concrete and is definitely not a good place to try and site a Stevenson screen! Have you ever been close by a jet that is warming up on the pan at any airport, multiply that by a couple of dozen (all day) and you get the idea that you must allow for a considerable amount of urbanisation!

On a less political note – If all you’ve been looking for is a list of heatwaves for the UK since 1878 take a look at my blog: